Adding intelligence to networks

Software from Bridgewater being introduced next week lets ISPs offer a variety of services depending on customer requirements.

September 26, 19971:00 PM PDT

Bridgewater Systems is among a
growing number of internetworking software players jumping into a new
market for providing tools to allow ISPs (Internet service providers) to
offer diverse services.

The recently formed company, based in Kanata, Ontario, will debut a set of
tools next week called WideSpan that allow access providers to
differentiate the types of services they offer to customers, whether they
provide outsourcing or simply bandwidth.

The debut of WideSpan underscores a theme that will be prevalent at next
month's Networld+Interop conference in Atlanta.
A number of entrenched vendors, such as Cisco Systems, as well as recently formed
players like Bridgewater, are going after this niche, looking to give
providers software that will allow them to provide distinct capabilities in
a crowded marketplace.

The WideSpan software includes Internet-based servers, service controls for
user profiles, and systems management utilities. The package allows an
access provider, such as a regional ISP, to
offer different classes of service depending on customer requirements,
including virtual private network (VPN) capabilities. The software also
includes a billing system that can charge a user by time or bandwidth used.

Bridgewater officials said they are trying to take the concepts of voice
networks and apply them to the data market. "We aren't reinventing any
great new wheel here," said Doug Somers, president and CEO of Bridgewater.

Bridgewater is an affiliate of Newbridge Networks, an internetworking
hardware player that has spawned a series of start-ups comprised of former
executives. Newbridge has a one-third stake in Bridgewater.

The WideSpan tool set will enter customer trials next month with general
availability targeted for the end of the year. Pricing will be based on the
number of clients and servers taking advantage of the software, with costs
starting at approximately $15 per subscriber.